HOBERG, Mo. -- An Ozarks family is looking for others that share an ancient connection, and their interest in restoring and preserving a historic site. Chris Gray and his father, Jerry, have found the site known as Fort Ancient or Spanish Fort in Lawrence County. It's where many of their ancestors are buried. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places for what it was long before a cemetery.

"The grass was more than knee deep, and there was a lot of damage from previous ice storms. There were limbs down everywhere," said Chris Gray. The tombstones, now uncovered, are helping Chris Gray uncover the story of his ancestors, and more.

"This is where the whole thing started was from this picture," Gray said, showing a picture of the old Allen family farm, which lies just below the historic spot.

"This is my great great great grandfather, Sampson Russell Allen," said Gray, referring to a tall gravestone. It's where many of the Allens and other families are buried.

"I came here as a little kid, and I didn't even know the cemetery existed because we played over there at the school," said Chris's father, Jerry.

"The farm is now a turf farm in the valley, and there was over 200 acres down there that they farmed," Gray said. But the valley is believed to have once been home to some people more ancient than those buried in the cemetery, a band of migrating mound builder indians, who probably headed for what is now Ohio.

"They constructed a mound, encircling the entire complex here, about two acres," said Gray. The spot was probably their fort. The mound still surrounds the site, smaller than it was long ago. It used to be about four feet tall with a fence on top of it, and it's believed to date back to about 1400 A.D.

"Being an ancient historic site, and being on the historical register, I think it's important we take care of it," said Gray. They hope others will want to share in picking up the pieces, and preserving this place for the future.

"Lawrence County was full of the Allen family, the Faucet family, the Gatton family and some other families that are buried here. We're asking for everybody's help," Gray said.
The people who used to take care of the site are unable to do so anymore. Now the Grays, who actually live around the Cassville area, plan to start a serious clean-up effort at the site near Hoberg in Lawrence County. They want to straighten and fix stones and trim back limbs Oct. 30 and 31. They're looking for descendents or anyone interested. Call (417) 342-0287 if you would like to help.

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Marker Text:
FORT ANCIENT, BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY A GROUP OF EASTWARD MIGRATING MOUND BUILDERS, A BAND OF INDIANS PROBABLY LONG ANTEDATING THE OSAGES, ON THEIR WAY TO WHAT IS NOW OHIO. THESE EARTHWORKS ARE A SMALL REPLICA OF THE GREAT FORT ANCIENT IN OHIO, WHERE THIS PREHISTORIC GROUP REACHED ITS GREATEST CULMINATION. THIS TRIBE PROBABLY HAD ITS VILLAGE IN THE VALLEY AND USED THESE FORTIFICATIONS FOR DEFENCE. FIRST PIONEERS DESCRIBE THE WALLS AS ORIGINALLY ABOUT 5 FT HIGH AND THE MOAT 2 FT. DEEP. SPRINGFIELD UNIVERSITY CLUB HISTORICAL MARKER NO. 16. ERECTED OCT. 1930.